Mike Bongiorno
In Sanremo, Mike Bongiorno connects the city’s music culture with the history of Italian television. Born in New York in 1924 to Italian parents, he returned to Italy after the Great Depression. His career took off during the 1950s, when television was entering Italian homes.
His greeting, “Allegria amici ascoltatori! Allegria!”, became instantly recognisable. Lascia o Raddoppia? adapted an American quiz format for Italian audiences, while Rischiatutto brought the same energy to television in the 1970s. He also hosted several editions of the Sanremo Festival, helping turn the event into a shared national experience. His combed-back hair, thick glasses, suit and Milanese accent made him feel familiar to viewers. He worked across RAI and private television, presenting programmes including Bis, Superflash, Telemike and La Ruota della Fortuna.
His story also carries the danger of wartime Italy. During the Second World War, the Gestapo captured him, but his American passport helped save him from execution. On screen, deliberate mispronunciations and small mistakes strengthened his connection with ordinary viewers. In Sanremo, that warmth remains tied to the festival’s role in bringing music and television together.
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